Last Thursday, Poppy and I went to Melbourne for three days with her cousin Maggie and my sister-in-law, Tup. It was such fun travelling with two little girls, who were so excited about all the little things you tend to take for granted … such as checking in our bags, holding their boarding passes and the ultimate … taking off!

We had some city time before going to Matilda The Musical at the Princess Theatre on Thursday night. The girls were beside themselves in their pretty dresses, marvelling at the beauty of the theatre, their Dress Circle seats, the amazing set, but mostly their Choc Tops!

The show was absolutely amazing – I recommend anyone to go and see it before it finishes in November. I even shed a little tear at the end! The girls were exhausted as they climbed into their beds at their big cousin’s home in Hawthorn.

I really valued spending time with Poppy just on her own – chatting away with her as we wandered through Chadstone on a mission to find her a new pair of Runners (that weren’t too pink)!

The three little cousins had a movie and a ‘midnight feast’ on Friday night, whilst the big sister-in-laws shared a beautiful home cooked meal and a bottle of red!

We had an amazing time away, but we missed our boys at home and it was lovely to see them on our return on Saturday night. Xx

Having grown up on a farm, I am conscious of providing Poppy and James all the fantastic elements of farm life.

Growing up, we were no strangers to hard work – demanding days far beyond our young years. It was not uncommon for us to be shifting irrigators, carting hay, tailing lambs, feeding calves, riding with Dad on the Harvester or coming home from school and heading out to cultivate a paddock on our own until well after dark! In hindsight, it was the best form of homework … hard work and independence.

When I was 17, I worked for Dad for the summer as he had paid to get the engine of my 1970 orange VW Beetle reconditioned and so we had a deal. As a Harvesting Contractor, he required someone to escort him from job-to-job which entailed driving his truck and header front from one farm to another as he drove in the Header (maximum speed 40 K’s)! Never displaying my ‘P’ plates for obvious reasons, as I was at the helm of an old International truck with no power steering, complete with grain bin on the back whilst towing a 25 foot header front! I was often required to reverse this rig through narrow gates as the Farmer was standing there watching me! Dad is still proud that all of his daughters can reverse a trailer.

These jobs certainly gave us the practical skills that I have drawn upon in many aspects of my adult life.

My sister and her husband live on a beautiful property at Bracknell with the Great Western Tiers forming a comforting, yet familiar backdrop. I took James and Poppy up to stay this weekend, as Nick was busy working on the boat. We fell into a comfortable rhythm that is so easily done when staying with family. On Saturday night Janelley cooked up a Pork Roast, complete with crackling and then all the cousins bunkered down for a movie and a sleepover, after some Loom Band action!

The next morning was a glorious day and after French Toast for breakfast, we went to collect the eggs, feed the pigs and cruised around the sheds.

My nieces took James and Poppy for a ride in their ‘Gator’, a 4WD buggy, and as they drove away my neurotic ‘Helicopter Parent’/’Adventure Tour Guide Teacher’ brain flashed random Risk Management Plans before my eyes! I then realised that these girls are country girls, practical lasses that have learnt to drive tractors before their 10th birthday’s. Girls that are like my sisters and I – a generation before.

Poppy and James were ecstatic – our little city slickers had dirt under their nails, mud on their boots and smiles a mile wide … with requests to come back to stay with their cousins during the harvesting season next summer!

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Nick went away for his annual winter boys boat weekend and I took Poppy and James to Launceston to meet their new baby cousin – Lily. We stayed with Nick’s parents where Poppy played ‘elastics’, enjoyed craft and read lots of books with her Bea Bea and Bear!

We visited my parents and also had lunch with my sister, Janelle and her three girls. Poppy was in her element playing with her cousins with a bounty of ballerina and princess costumes at her disposal.

On return, we caught up at the IXL Atrium for a coffee with my other sister Cath. It was a fun family weekend, but we were all very excited to see ‘Daddy’ return home yesterday afternoon. Xx

Apologies for the grainy photos in this post – they were mostly taken with my iPhone in less than favourable conditions. ♥